ROYAL Mail union officials claim postal workers in Crewe are getting little back-up from management or police as they live in fear of an anthrax attack.

They say an incident in which a postman was covered in white powder when he opened a mailbox in Madeley was dealt with insensitively and did not inspire confidence in procedures among colleagues.

The substance was later found to be flour.

But Ron Evans, the Crewe branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said several days later the young dad still had not been officially informed.

He said: 'When he found himself covered in the powder, he immediately rang his line manager at Crewe who instructed him to carry on with his collection but to avoid members of the public.

'On his return to Weston Road, he was told to park his van away from vehicles and remain inside. Police were informed but they did not seem to want to take the matter seriously and said there was no reason to believe it was anything suspicious.

'But with all the anthrax deaths in America, the postal worker was understandably very concerned about going home and passing anything onto his children.

'The incident happened last Thursday and he has still not been officially told that the powder was not of the sinister kind. Over the weekend he could only reassure himself that he had not shown any symptoms.

'Postal workers have always been aware of suspect packages and there are good procedures in place to deal with anything thought to contain a bomb, but now it seems we are in the first line of defence against a biological threat and it makes us all very uneasy.

'Staff have been issued with latex gloves but that's not the answer. They want to feel that any incident, be it a hoax or not, will be dealt seriously and not just dismissed out of hand. The way the police and management dealt with last Thursday was a shambles.'

CWU officials have protested in writing to Royal Mail director Mick Linsell, MP Gwyneth Dunwoody and Home Secretary David Blunkett.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: 'We have clear procedures to follow if a suspect package is found in our system which includes contacting the police and acting on their advice.

'We have provided as much information to staff about anthrax as possible and continue to reassure them.'

Cheshire Police said the incident had been treated seriously despite being one of many false alarms.

Superintendent Derek Barnett, head of operations policy, said: 'We treat every incident seriously and on its merits. On this occasion the assessment was made that it was not a viable terrorist incident. We have since been in touch with Royal Mail and they are satisfied with the action taken.'